Saving Windows search results to a file

I need to save the search results from a Windows Search to a file. For example, I have searched for all files beginning with abc* and have a long list of results. Is there a way to save the results to a file?

Also, I was wondering howI can view the "Date Last Accessed" of files in Windows Explorer. The Search enables me to find all files Last Accessed between dates, but I cannot find where I can view this date.

Re: Saving Windows search results to a file

You can display a Date Last Accessed column, by right-clicking anywhere on the column headings bar (I currently have Name, Size, Type, Last Modified), and then on More... at the bottom of the drop-down window. Select the columns you want!

But bear in mind that the Date Last Accessed information is close to useless. Read all about the various date fields for files in this XXCOPY Technical Bulletin.

Re: Saving Windows search results to a file

I haven't Googled for this lately, so I don't know if you can still obtain it. Ziff-Davis (PC Magazine) published a <img src=/S/free.gif border=0 alt=free width=30 height=15> utility several years ago called FileGrab that still works, even in WinXP. I just tested it on an Explorer search and I can DRAG some or all of the files from the Search window to the FileGrab window. From there, it's a simple matter of Save As. Here's a shot of the About screen.

Edited by Bigaldoc to add: I did just run a check and the program is indeed still available from PC Mag. Unfortunately, you have to have a PAID subscription to do so..

If you want to see the Modified date/ time in the normal Windows Find dialog, it's the column at the far right, and you may have to scroll across to it. You can click on any column label to order results by that criterion. From the Help file:
To save the results of a search
1. After a search for a file has finished, click the Options menu in the Find window, and then click Save Results.

2. On the File menu, click Save Search.
An icon representing the search results or search criteria appears on your desktop.
To update the search results, click the icon, and then click Find Now.

Re: Saving Windows search results to a file

Jack,

A couple of months ago, I had a post asking for an improved search capability over what Win supplied (including XP). What I wanted to do is be able to set the folder to start the search and fill in the file name (or part of it) and save that. I know how to save the results of a Win XP search although I don't see an options button in the XP Find window when it's done.

When I go to open the saved search window/file, it has the name of what I was looking for but the Look-In has been changed back to the default (a list of all my drives as in "C:, D:, E:"). This is NOT what I want. I want the Look-In to be as I had it for the original search (eg, "G:Fred's Stufftips") rather than having to click to reset the starting folder.

Re: Saving Windows search results to a file

Fred,
when you click the icon which was saved, the box comes up with the same search parameters and also still has the list in it.
If you wish to have just the "search" saved, then you don't have to click options, save results. Just click "Save search" under File
I use the "save search " routine to regularly find *.tmp, *.bak and ~*.* files which I then remove as they aren't necessary and just use up disk space.
Even after clearing temporary internet files out the search still finds some more.
I gotta go hope this answers your question. Win 98 isn't so bad after all.
Jack

Re: Saving Windows search results to a file

Jack,

Best as I can tell, Win XP is a step backwards in this regard. There's no options button in XP's search. So each time I want to limit a search to a subfolder and below, I need to browse thru the "Look In" drop down in the left. Having done so, saving the search does me no good the next time around. Look In is set back to "C:, D:, ..."

However, I did notice just now that there is an address bar under the toolbar. The dropdown allows you to navigate to a subfolder. If I do a search and save, then close Search, and re-open the saved search, it does already have the searched file name and Look In filled in correctly. I wouldn't have thought that made a diff (where you set the subfolder to start the search) but apparently it does.

The saved search does NOT have the results of the previous search, which is ok for me.

What I'd like also is to be able to be able to enter items for the file name with various options like search for a file that has either "pivot" OR "date" in its name but not necessarily together. Win XP search treats any words entered apparently as an AND. I guess to get this fancy, I'd have to get some of the programs that Alan Miller mentioned earlier in the thread.

Another thing it looks like you can't do easily in Win XP's search is the equivalent of a Save. That is, once you've saved a search and re-use it with some changes, you can't just Save the Search again with updated parameters (eg, a new search criteria). If you Save Search, it's like doing a Save As. I guess part of that is bcs Win XP's initial name for the Saved Search includes the searched file name as part of the Saved Search's file name (eg., "Files named pivot.fnd" can't be overwritten so a new search using the saved search on "chart" results in a new saved search initially named as "Files named chart.fnd"). Of course, you can change the name to "Files named pivot.fnd" and Win XP will prompt you about replacing an existing file. Certainly not as clean as just doing a Save.

Re: Saving Windows search results to a file

Now, as for the original poster, I hope she has found what she wanted in one of the earlier posts because I don't think what most of you have been talking about is what she was after. She hasn't been back since her original question, so...

Re: Saving Windows search results to a file

Marie,

Here's a full listing of the DIR switches. You will notice that there are specific switches for the date / time value. There are three date / time parameters but only one at a time can be employed. John Gray also told you about the possible problems with the Date Last Accessed value.
<pre>DIR [drive:][path][filename] [/A[[:]attributes]] [/b] [/C] [/D] [/L] [/N]
[/O[[:]sortorder]] [/P] [/Q] [/S] [/T[[:]timefield]] [/W] [/X] [/4]

/A Displays files with specified attributes.
attributes D Directories R Read-only files
H Hidden files A Files ready for archiving
S System files - Prefix meaning not
/B Uses bare format (no heading information or summary).
/C Display the thousand separator in file sizes. This is the
default. Use /-C to disable display of separator.
/D Same as wide but files are list sorted by column.
/L Uses lowercase.
/N New long list format where filenames are on the far right.
/O List by files in sorted order.
sortorder N By name (alphabetic) S By size (smallest first)
E By extension (alphabetic) D By date/time (oldest first)
G Group directories first - Prefix to reverse order
/P Pauses after each screenful of information.
/Q Display the owner of the file.
/S Displays files in specified directory and all subdirectories. /T Controls which time field displayed or used for sorting
timefield C Creation
A Last Access
W Last Written
/W Uses wide list format.
/X This displays the short names generated for non-8dot3 file
names. The format is that of /N with the short name inserted
before the long name. If no short name is present, blanks are
displayed in its place.
/4 Displays four-digit years

Switches may be preset in the DIRCMD environment variable. Override
preset switches by prefixing any switch with - (hyphen)--for example, /-W.
</pre>